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Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974. Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2347-5374 (Online) Sch. J. Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974 ISSN 2347-9493 (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’: Some Implications Dr. D. S. Salunke Assistant Professor, Department of English, Vinayakrao Patil College, Vaijapur, Dist. Aurangabad-423701, Maharashtra *Corresponding Author: Dr. D. S. Salunke Email: [email protected] Abstract: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the independent India, delivered a speech entitled “Tryst with destiny” towards midnight on 14August 1947. Speaking from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in Delhi, he addressed the speech to the Constituent Assembly and to the millions of Indians as well. In his brief and passionate speech, he refers to many important issues concerning India‟s past, present and future and dwells on the deeper raison d‟etre of the upcoming freedom. He lauds the distinction of India in terms of its constant engagement with the spiritual quest it pursued from the dawn of history; celebrates the significance of the present moment and outlines what path India ought to pursue in future. It is a symbolic speech and has multiple implications having relevance even circumstances that exist today. It has also been a wonderful piece of literature in terms of theme. The paper interprets the symbolic meaning of the brief speech by comparing it with Lincoln‟s Gettysberg address and Thomas Jefferson‟s Declaration of Independence. While making us aware of the responsibility, Nehru enlarges the context of freedom in the light of well- being of the whole humanity. The account given below gives a critical perspective on the central motif of “destiny” that constantly figures in Nehru‟s speeches. It emphasizes the value of non-violence, the glorious legacy of culture and carves out the blue-print for building a prosperous and democratic Indian nation. Keywords: freedom, future, responsibility, blue-print, democratic Introduction: Some words, some speeches by great men are She was forced to sleep due to suppression for always remembered by people for generations. Because one and half a century and sometimes it appeared as if it of their universal appeal they become timeless. is dead, but it was not so. At the advent of freedom, the Speeches of great leaders have their unique place and soul has begun to utter something in whisper as her value in literary history. Such valuable words serve asa freedom of speech was banned for years under the torch bearer for the generations to come. Abraham colonial rule. As noted by Iyengar it is “the modern Lincoln‟s Gettysburg Address, Thomas Jefferson‟s India awakening from the stupor of the centuries and Declaration of the Independence, Martin Luther King‟s taking the first firm steps in the direction of the future” (Jr) I have a Dream have gone down in the history as [2]. The freedom of expression was denied to it. The memorable events. These addresses are often pretty nation of millions took pledge in the past to make India brief but quite inspiring to the people at large. free. Now that much awaited moment has arrived. This Shakespeare called brevity as the soul of wit. In this is natural to a nation forced to be slave, but this sort of particular speech, the tone, substance, occasion, style confusion is a temporary phenomenon. Sri Aurobindo render ample scope for a range of interpretations. agrees that “certainly the outward members were Consequently, the present speech is considered as a becoming gangrened; the powers of renovation seemed superb piece of oration in this millennium. for a moment to be beaten by the powers of stagnation, and stagnation is death. Now that the salvation, the From sleep to awakening: reawakening has come, India will certainly keep her Nehru‟s reverence for freedom and the essential spirit, will keep her characteristic soul” [3]. As aspiration of the whole humanity flows constantly in Discovery of India and Letters from father to a through this brief speech. He points that the stroke of Daughter, the pendulum moves from past to future, and midnight matters because though the rest of the world is the perception of the present which also marks the in deep sleep-the moment matters little for them-India dividing and connecting link is clearly evident. His awakes to life and freedom. “At the stroke of the preoccupation with the history is evident here once midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake again in that he revolutionizes the very definition and to life and freedom.” [1] dynamics of history: “history begins anew for us, the Available Online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 971 Salunke DS; Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2014; 2(6B):971-974. history which we shall live and act and others will write bonds has been stated in clear terms: “We hold these about”. truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain The concept of pledge: unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty Nehru describes this mission as „a pledge‟, „an and the pursuit of Happiness”[7]. unending quest‟, „the ideal‟, „a triumph‟, „a challenge‟, „a responsibility‟, „an ambition‟, „work‟, „a dream‟, „a The strength: noble mansion‟, „a great adventure‟, „a bold advance‟, Nehru terms this freedom as an opportunity as „an endeavor‟ etc. Through this brief speech Nehru a bright future awaits the nation. Such transitions don‟t outlines the vision for an ideal India. Sonia Gandhi in happen again and again; they are rare. He hints that Foreword to “An Autobiography” remarks that in all of freedom is a means not an end; the end is the triumphs Nehru‟s works “runs the common thread of Nehru‟s and achievements that the suppressed soul could not own vision and ideals-his passionate commitment to realize during the foreign rule. These opportunities democracy and social justice, his intense aversion to bring both material as well as spiritual prospects. At this totalitarianism, and fundamentalism, and his exuberant moment of jubilation, he reminds us of the challenge celebration of India‟s pluralistic culture” [4]. We had that this prospect of freedom has brought with it. So, it made a tryst with the destiny long ago and now we are is in this context that he terms the future that lies ahead to redeem of the pledge. Philosophizing on it, he as being a challenge. The harrowing experience of the contemplates that such pledges cannot be redeemed past has to be forgotten and we need to look at the wholly or in full measures, but they can be fulfilled future full of prospect. And we have every reason to substantially. Unquestionably, it matters much even if look at the future positively. India always had this we redeem such prayers substantially. Therefore he power to bear in mind, through times of ease and refers to this mission of India as being “her unending hardship, the luminous ideal, the quest which quest”. Accordingly, making India free from the yoke constitutes its strength. In her evolution over the eons of foreign rule was the pledge that the Indians had taken she always rediscovered herself. India has been striving long back. Since from this moment India is free, Nehru for this “unending quest” since “the dawn of history”. questions how this sort of freedom would actually By saying this he also underscores the greatness of our work. The speech brilliantly answers this very question. country and so the phrase “the dawn of history” carries It has become relevant once again because the task of a special value and meaning suggesting that even in the freedom has been accomplished; now the next step is to prehistoric times the people in this part of the world wipe tears from the face of the poorest citizen in the were cultured and more conscious and more organized. country. He brings the poor at the helm of affairs. Dr. This is the reason why great civilization called Harappa A. P. J. Abdul Kalam concludes that “Gandhiji‟s flourished on the banks of the rivers in the subcontinent. strikingly simple criterion was that every action Therefore, at this juncture, Nehru asks us to “live up to proposed or contemplated, should in its implementation that high standard”. He aptly describes the Indians as wipe the tears of a poor and downtrodden person” [5]. “the citizens of a great country”. Hard work has been a Both the ideal of nation and freedom remain incomplete national characteristic of the Indian soul. In the past we if the poor are in tears. His main concern is to find out have taken pledges and the time has come to work ways and means in this free nation to improve the lot of harder to fulfill the pledge. Our first priority is to give a the common men, peasants and workers. This is the helping hand to millions who are suffering. This is the challenge that we need to accept in the years to come. meaning of the service that we ought to render to the Unless and until we achieve this object of natural oppressed by the internal and external factors. This we justice, we cannot say for sure that we have redeemed can do by ending poverty, ignorance, disease, inequality the solemn pledge. He further adds that we feel pleased of enjoying this newly opened opportunity. All these that we have redeemed one pledge; we need to take values have been enshrined in “Preamble to the Indian another pledge of dedication to serve India and her Constitution”.

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